Envelope-sealer



(No Model.)

G. H. TALBOT. ENVELOPB SBALBR..

No. 556,942. Patented Mar. 24, i896.

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UNITED STATES 'PATENT @Finca GEORGE HENRY TALBQT, OF NEVTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ENVELOPE-SEALER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,942, dated March 24, 1896. Application filed April l2, 1895. Serial No. 545,446 (No model.)

To will whom it may concern.;

Be it known that l, GEORGE HENRY TALBOT, physician, of Newton, Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Envelope-Sealers, ot which the following is a description, referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

The object of the invention lis to produce an envelopesealer which, by a simple manipulation of the envelope, may moisten the gum or glue upon the iiap and press the iiap iirinly in position against the rear folds of the envelope in the usual manner, effectively sealing it.

To these and certain other more incidental ends and purposes my invention is embodied in the apparatus and its several parts, constructed, arranged, combined and operating substantially in the manner hereinafter described, illustrated and claimed.

The invention is of so simple a nature that it will be readily understood from the aecompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a plan view of the complete apl paratus; Fig. 2, a front elevation; Fig. 3, a vertical section of the base on the plane 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing the inoistening device in full; and Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are views illustrative of the motion of an envelope in passing through moistener and sealer.

Throughout the drawings like letters of reference indicate like parts.

The apparatus is mounted upon a heavy cast-metal base B, the weight being designed to keep the apparatus in position upon the desk while in use. This heavy base is cast with the post or stud to which the presser device is secured and with a cup or well l) for the water or other iiuid, which in some instances may be an adhesive solution enabling the device to be used with ungummed envelopes.

A smooth metallic plate M of the form clearly shown in the figures is secured in po sition by a thumb-screw ou, the upper or horizontal portion of the plate lying from onesixteenth to one-eighth of an inch above the upper face of the base l5 and covering the well or cup D. Along the under face of this plate lli is secured the upper portion of a wick or inoistener in, of iiannel or other capillary substance. The well D and the wick w are shown in dotted lines in Figs. l and 2. The Afree end of this wick extends down, as shown, into the well D, and is kept moistened by the liquid within the well. This wiel; should be so mounted and secured upon the lower face of the plate M that the edge of the flap of the envelope will not catch in passing under it. This may be attained by either bevelin g the flannel or wiel;1 or by sinking its edge slightly into a suitable depression in the lower surface of the plate M.

To the post is secured by suitable means, as a screw and clip or clamp F, the bar G carrying the upper presser-plate, P. This is preferably made of thin spring metal, and the bar G may be riveted directly to it. The bar G is secured in the clip F by means ot a set.- screw or thumb-serewf The under presserplate, I, is secured directlyv to the upper snrface of the base B and the two plates are inclined to each other, as clearly indicated in the iigurcs, their parallel and meeting edges lying in an inclined position to the edge of the base, as shown. The pressure between the edges of the two plates may be adjusted by pressing the plates fi rmly together by hand, turning the bar G, and then setting the parts firmly in place, when adjusted, by means of the sct-screwf. The angular position of the bar G may be also changed by swinging the clip F upon its support, the screw by which it is held readily permitting this.

All these details may be somewhat modiiied and still lie within my invention, which will be more fully understood from a description of its operation, as follows:

The envelope is shown in three successive positions in Figs. 4:, 5, and f5. lt is inserted from the left, as shown in Fig. i, the ilap being opened slightly and lying beneath the iuoistener-plate M, while the upper face of the envelope lies above the plate. The envelope is drawn partly through in approximately the direction of the right-hand inclined portion of the i'lap until it reaches the position shown in Fig. t when the corner of the envelope enters between the two presser-plates P P'. The envelope is then drawn in a curved direc-tion to the position shown in Fig. and by this action the portion of the flap which passes between the pressureplates is pressed rmly IOO against the envelope While the remainder of the flap is drawn through the moistener device. In passing through the moistener device the gummed edge of the envelope comes directly in contact With the moist under surface of the upper end of lthe Wick or kflannel fw, and as this lies closely above the upper surface of the base the gum upon the envelopefis brought Well into contact With the' moist Wick and effectively moistened. On passing between the presser-plates the moistened gummed surface is pressedbetween the ap and the envelope and the envelope securely sealed. The final position of the envelope as it leaves the presser-plates is shown in Fig. 6.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my device consists of two suitably-arranged and cao-operating devices, the one serving to yinoisten the flap of the envelope and direct and guide the envelope into the second or sealing device and the sealing deviceserving to firmly press the -moistencd iiap into place.

any slight modifications may be made iny each of these devices Without greatly affecting the action of the other; but the shape of the moistening and guiding plate M, in combi nation with the presser-plates P, I have found l. In combination, in a sealing apparatus, the cup or Well D, the moistening-plate M provided With a textile or other moisture-holding surface upon its under surface, a Wick or capillary continuation of the said moisture holding surface extending into the said cup or Well, and the pair of opposed spring presserplates, substantially as setforth, whereby thc folded flap of an envelope may be received beneath they said plate M and thereafter pressed by the said presserplates.

2. In combination in a moistening device. the base or support B, the thin plate M lying above the said base with a small interval between for receiving the folded iiap of an envelope, a Well or cup D, and a capillarybody or Wick extending over vand secured upon a portion of the lower face of the said plate and terminating in the said Well or cup, substan-y tially as set forth.

3. In combination, the Well or cup D, the plate M, and the capillary body or Wick w eX- tending from the said well up to the lower surface of the said plate and forming a facing or moisture-holding surface7 secured thereon. substantially as set forth.

In testimony Iwhereof I have hereunto set my hand, -at Newton, Massachusetts, this 7th day of April, A. D. 1895.

GEO. HENRY TALBOT.

XVitnesses:

FRANK. L. Barc-HAM, N. L, SHELDON. 

